v a ts 3 - Friday, March 15, 1985 - Nocth Shore News RE a a ee i‘ Crossfire..........10 Entertainment ..... 53 Real Estate........15 : Table Hopping.....56 7 TV cc eceee eee es 58 ‘ What’s Going On.. .55 i WEATHER: JEWEL: 12 ENTERTAIKING:53 PRUNING:55 4 Fri, cloudy with sunny This designer home is a Friday’s entertainment Find out what’s going on 4. | periods, Sat. showers steal at $3.9 million section looks at restaurants, around the North Shore 7 plays, art and more + hs wes cee? seaman Cetiae mee ‘UP TO 40 PER CENT INCREASES BUS FARE hikes will have North Shore riders digging deeper into their pockets come June }. other times have been in- creased from 85 cents io $1. cut services or increase fares."" us fare boost hits Metro users 45.6 per cent of costs,"’ Loucks says. ‘It used to be North Vancouver City The revenue target of the the fare box had to bring in The Metro Transit fare for travel in two zones and cents to 50 in one zone, 55 Mayor Jack Loucks and fare box will rise from 42 per 35 per cent of the cost of increases, which range from $1.75 (from $1.25) for three cents to 70 in two and 65 North Vancouver District cent to 45.6 with the June! transit. The deficit or dif- 18 to 40 per cent, will see commuters pay rates of $1 _ {up from §5 cents) for travel * in one zone, $1.35 (from $1) zones. Concession rates —- those charged. senior citizens and students — will rise from 45 cents to 90 in three. The inter-zone fares will be in effect during rush hour periods. Flat rate fares for NEWS photo Terry Peters BRENDA CAMPBELL is not impressed with the fact she and other riders on Metro Transit buses will have to pitch in another 15 cents for a single-zone bus ride beginning June 1. “0 Mayor Marilyn Baker both agree that either fares had to be increased or service cut. Loucks, the North Shore representative for the Regional Transit Commis- sion, says that a previous motion was passed to use a surplus from the three- month bus strike in ’84, and the additional funds raised through motive fuel tax, transit power levy and non- residential property taxes, to avoid a fare hike. But a 1983-84 retroactive increase. But Loucks says he agreed to the increase as a one-time target, and that 35 ference was paid two-thirds by provincial government, one-third by the GVRD.”” Baker feels Vancouver Regional Transit ‘“‘is in a very tight spot.’” “Two years of retroactive pay has made an incredible dent in the budget,’’ she says, ‘‘and it can't be con- tinued. If contract negotia- tions are protracted, it has a detrimental impact. F think it’s unfortunate because a savings came when there was a strike, walkout, but the wage settlement totalling savings wasn't passed $6,300,000 has eaten up any along.” surplus. Commenting on the pro- vincial cuts, Baker says, The transit power levy has also been raised from $1.25 to $1.60 on hydro bills and non-residential taxes also been raised. Government funding has been cut five per cent from last year, Loucks says, which adds up to a ‘few million less, anyways.”’ “The only way to main- tain the system with the present government at- titude,’’ Loucks says, ‘tis to METRO TRANSIT bus have | MAYOR Jack Loucks per cent is a more reasonable share of costs from the fare box. “The government has in- dicated they will give us 95 per cent of what they gave us last year so this means we try to make it up in the fare box by raising fares to pay for While West Van follows suit municipalities a chance to “It’s unfortunate that pro- vincial cuts have to come ta the transit level. The transit system is running a tight ship.”’ The $1 bills that will be stuffed into fare boxes are a transit concern, since the boxes are made to accom- modate coins, and the bills will be less efficient, clogg- ing the boxes and taking up more room. from Vancouver is 35 per users aren’t the only ones present their views. cent,’’ Humphreys says. being hit with fare hikes. ‘“*For a transportation The West Vancouver Blue system which produces in Buses will also be raising its transit fees for riders June t to keep in line with Metro fare increases. A 35 per cent increase will have West Vancouver com- muters paying $1.35 from St to rush-hour travel to Van- couver. Other increases adopted by Metro Transit (see story above) also apply excess of 45.6 per cent of the system’s revenue, this is unacceptable. We recognize the need to increase fees, but 35 per cent seems extremely excessive, especially when other provincial bodies are being required to have a zero per cent increase or are strongly encouraged to."" Humphries says an effec- to the West Vancouver Fa tive way to discourage the system. MAYOR use of $I bills, which clog up West Vancouver Mayor Derrick Humphreys fare boxes, is 10 increase Derrick Humphreys said he felt the decision on fare in- creases should have been delayed to vive we “The West Vancouver proposed fare increase for peak-hour travel to and Tesh discounts for bus passes. But he adds that this recommen- dation ‘‘does not appear to be considered.”